The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-16
THE CITY OF coRuNNA.
a Bit OF Ancient History About On
Famous Fortress of Spain.

a hit OF Ancient History About . Once
Famous Fortress OF Spain.
On little half-moon bay on the
rugged coast of Northwestern Spain,
and at the foot of jagged spur of the
Pyrenees lies the city and the remnants
OF the once famous fortress of Corunna.
Strengthened by nature toward guard
ing the entrance to the peninsula from
northern invasions, the dcfenses have
long played an important part in mill
tary history, and only to the great ad-
vancement in modern armament and
ordnance Is to be attributed what is
now q worthless system of Notifications.
Either the Spanish Government has long
been aware of the untenability Of the
place before the attacks of modern ves-
sells of war and has wisely stopped all
extension of the works, or the imbecil-
ity Of its War Department has prevented
the adoption of plans and designs COM
patiblc with the age.
One lying at anchor directly under
the guns of CASTLE dc San Antonio is
| enabled to obtain a fair idea of CO.
runna. Approaching from the sea a
narrow strait Is entered which, turning
to the right, runs parallel to the coast.
This strait, about three miles in length,
is defended by water-batteries of earth
works, which with heavy artillery could
| offer no little resistance to the passage
of fleet. In the center of the bay, on
solitary rock, is CASTLE de San An
tonic; built of heavy masonry from the
water edge up and excavated for its
magazines, wells and stores. The
greatest-width of the bay does not
exceed two miles, SO that San Antonio
commands full sweep Of its surface
On the mainland, to the right of San
Antonio, stands Fort San Diego. which
commands the rear of the city as we'll
as the water approach. Another fort
OF like character, but much less i'm
portant, controls the water front.
These forts on the mainland are but
central points of the system of bat
teries which encircle the city. The
majority of the guns are of an antique
pattern, and San Antonio in its present
condition could be easily silenced by an
ordinary broadside. And yet. WORTH
less as these Notifications now are, this
little bay was once secure against the
naval forces of England and France.
The plunging fire which could be de-
livered from the heights would be de-
struction to a modern fleet to-day. much
more so the class of vessels with which
Lords Drake and Norris assailed the
place.
Corunna (spelled La Coruna by the
Spaniards) is supposed by many schol-
ars to have been founded by the Pheni-
clans and identified with the ancient
Ardobrica, a seaport mentioned by Mela
and alluded to as existing in the country
of the Artabri. The name Portus Arta-
bronum is found applied to the bay on
which the city is situated, and its de-
rivation from Artabri is traceable. As
far back as the Middle Ages the city
was called Carourum, and the present
name is no doubt thus derived, though
others declare it of pure Latin origin.
But in only comparatively modern
times have the bay and city figured in
| Ah 1CcC UiiC
which was to humble proud Elizabeth,
consisting of 129 vessels of the line and
carrying nearly 5000 guns and 10000
men, was fitted out in this little half
moon. The ill-timed parsimony of the
English Queen, however, prevented the
total destruction of the armada. But il
Howard and Drake failed, still, through
this reason, the honor of the British
navy was not tarnished. BY the terrible
assault made by Drake in 1898, when he
carried with his naval forces impregna.
BILE Corunna, the Spaniartls lost their
strongest fortress. Drake wantonly
burned the city after the capture. After
the withdrawal of the English Corunna
was strengthened and fortified, so that
the fortress ranked among the first in
Europe.-Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.